New York Times - Top Stories

Erica L. Green

Trump removed the video, which portrayed the former president and first lady as apes, from his Truth Social account after receiving criticism from members of his own party. It was an unusual walk-back by the president.

Isabella Kwai

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the Senate’s only Black Republican, wrote on X that he hoped the post was fake “because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House. The President should remove it.”

Erica L. Green

In response to questions about the clip, which Trump posted Thursday during a late-night spree on social media, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said on Friday morning that criticism of the video was “fake outrage.”

Erica L. Green

“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King,” Leavitt said. “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”

Robert Jimison

“The President’s post is wrong and incredibly offensive,” Representative Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, wrote in a social media post. Lawler, who represents the Hudson Valley, said the video “should be deleted immediately with an apology offered.”

Isabella Kwai

The press office of Gov. Gavin Newsom of California condemned Trump’s post, saying it represented “disgusting behavior by the President.” Newsom added: “Every single Republican must denounce this. Now.”